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Landis seizes lead at Paris-Nice
Floyd Landis (Phonak) ground just about everyone into the asphalt in Wednesday’s hilly 168.5km third stage to capture the overall leader’s jersey at Paris-Nice in an impressive display.
Just in case the Euros hadn’t noticed that Landis came flying out of the gates this season with a big win in the debut Amgen Tour of California, he provided a wake-up call dropping everyone except Spain’s Patxi Vila (Lampre) to surge into the yellow jersey and position himself as the favorite to win Europe’s first major stage-race of the year.
"I knew I had good legs after my victory in the Tour of California, but to take the jersey so early in the race comes as a bit of a surprise," Landis told reporters. "I’ll do my best to keep it."
Landis won in California thanks to a strong time trial, but it was his climbing legs that vaulted him into the lead Wednesday. Overnight leader Tom Boonen (Quick Step-Innergetic) faltered as expected on the challenging stage and came through 36th at 5:48 back, but retained the points leader’s jersey.
It didn’t take long for the hostilities to begin as the "Race to the Sun" was still hunkering down under cloudy, cool skies. Starting in France’s Beaujolais wine country, the route pushed over the hardest climbs yet of the eight-day race.
The day’s first major breakaway gelled over the Col de Brouilly at 18.5km. Jens Voigt (CSC), Nicolas Jalabert (Phonak) and Allan Davis (Liberty Seguros) were a dozen riders who carved a 1:30 gap at 85km.
A steady pace in the main bunch kept the move within striking distance for a counter-attack involving 13 riders, including Haimar Zubeldia (Euskaltel), Alberto Contador (Liberty Seguros), Pietro Caucchioli (Credit Agricole) and Jose Luis Rubiera (Discovery Channel).
The chasing 13 swept past the remnants of the first move coming over the Col de l’Aubepin at 111km. The peloton crossed the Cote de la Croix Blance before slipping through Saint Chamand, where a points sprint was held in honor of Andrei Kivilev, the Kazakh rider who died in an accident in 2002.
Johan Vansummeren (Davitamon-Lotto) and Alberto Martinez (Agritubel) powered away from the lead break when the fractured main bunch hit the day’s main obstacle, the Cat. 1 Cote de la Croix de Chaubouret (10.1km at 6.5 percent).
David Moncoutie (Cofidis) started to chase in earnest out of the lead group, provoking riders to scramble to catch the wheel. Following were Frank Schleck (CSC), Toni Colom (Illes Balears), Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel), Landis and Vila.
Defending champion Bobby Julich (CSC) couldn’t follow and eventually came through 58th at 8:47, just behind Andrey Kashechkin (Liberty Seguros), and both riders fell out of contention.
The leading quintet quickly powered to the front after Moncoutie couldn’t hold the rhythm. With about 2km to go to the summit, Landis put the hammer down and only Vila could follow.
The chasing trio of Sanchez, Schleck and Colom tried to limit the damage, but they slipped to 30 seconds back at the summit. Chris Horner (Davitamon-Lotto) latched onto to the Azevedo-Rubiera chase group and topped out 1:15 back.
But Landis was intent on driving a wedge between him and his pursuers. Despite receiving only passing help from Vila, Landis turned on the after-burners over the twisting 18km descent to St-Etienne. By the time they hit the final kilometer, the gap was more than one minute.
With Landis clearly the strongest rider on the day, Vila wasn’t going to help out too much, but he didn’t hesitate to squirt past the American to score his first professional victory.
"I’ve been waiting for a win for a long time," said Vila, who moved into second overall at nine seconds back. "I now have hopes for final victory, but it will be hard to knock off Floyd. I look forward to the big stages in the south and especially the one into Cannes, which looks especially hard."
Sanchez led the three-man chase group across the line at 1:16 back and moved into third overall at 1:13 back. Colom moved into a tie for fourth with Schleck at 1:23 back.
Discovery Channel’s Azevedo nudged into fifth at 1:34 down after coming through with the second chase group at 1:25 back that also included Horner, who now sits 11th at 1:43 back.
The taxing day in the saddle took it out of the peloton, with 17 riders not starting, not finishing or finishing outside the time limit. Among the bigger names taking an early exit were Brad McGee (FDJeux), Kim Kirchen (T-Mobile) and Robert Hunter (Phonak).
Without the strongest Phonak team lining up for Paris-Nice, Landis will have to use all his guile in the coming stages if he expects to hold onto the yellow jersey all the way to Nice. The final three stages are more French roller-coasters that present ideal terrain for stage-hunters keen to upset the balance of the race.
Thursday's 193km fourth stage represents a momentary cease-fire despite the presence of a Cat. 1 in the opening 12.5km. From there, the course dips down to the Rhone Valley and pushes south to skirt the flanks of Mont Ventoux. The route doesn't push up the giant of Provence, however, ending instead in Rasteau with a Cat. 3 with 9.5km to go to spice things up.
Top 10 results
1. Vila Errandonea Patxi Xabier (Sp), Lampre, 4:23:28
2. Floyd Landis (USA), Phonak, same time
3. Samuel Sanchez (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 1:16
4. Frank Schleck (Lux), CSC, s.t.
5. Antonio Colom (Sp), Caisse L’Espargne-Illes Balears, s.t.
6. Stefan Schumacher (G), Gerolsteiner, at 1:25
7. Jose Luis Rubiera (Sp), Discovery Channel Pro Cycling, at 1:26
8. Haimar Zubeldia (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, s.t.
9. Luis Sanchez (Sp), Liberty Seguros, s.t.
10. Pietro Caucchioli (I), Credit Agricole, s.t.
Overall
1. Floyd Landis (USA), Phonak, 14:46:28
2. Vila Errandonea Patxi Xabier (Sp), Lampre, at 0:09
3. Samuel Sanchez (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 1:13
4. Antonio Colom (Sp), Caisse L’Espargne-Illes Balears, at 1:23
5. Frank Schleck (Lux), CSC, s.t.
6. Jose Azevedo(P), Discovery Channel Pro Cycling, at 1:35
7. Haimar Zubeldia (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 1:37
8. Pietro Caucchioli (I), Credit Agricole, at 1:39
9. Stefan Schumacher (G), Gerolsteiner, s.t.
10. Jose Luis Rubiera (Sp), Discovery Channel Pro Cycling, at 1:40
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